“It’s the Eastern final and it will be like playing anybody else because you have to be ready for it,” he said. “We can’t rest on what we did last year or the year before that. It’s a different group. They have some new players and we have some different players. We just have to come out and play our game.”

The Hunt-Jacksonville winner will play the winner of the West Regional final between No. 1 Marvin Ridge (20-1-1) and No. 6 Foard (19-5-3) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the state title game at the Dail Soccer Field at N.C. State University.

Coastal Conference champion Jacksonville (19-4-1) is in the regional final for the ninth consecutive season. This is the first time since 2008, though, the Cardinals will play another team other than Chapel Hill and Cardinal Gibbons – two teams Jacksonville defeated in this year’s playoffs.

“I think it will help,” Davis said of the Cardinals’ playoff experience. “I wouldn’t say we are confident, but we are ready to play.”

Meanwhile, Hunt (17-6-1) is the regional final for the first time since 1999. The Warriors rallied for a 2-1 victory over White Oak on Saturday on a game-winning goal by sophomore Jake Fox. Hunt, coached by Scott Summers, won the Big East Conference title.

“They are a good side. They are going to be well-coached and it’s going to be a good game,” Miller said. “They have a good kid up top (Jacob Lee), their middle is solid and they have a pretty good goalkeeper (in Andrew Sorrell). They have really come along this year. I know they are young…, but they have steadily gotten better as the year has gone on, and you have seen that in the playoffs.”

Each of the Warriors’ four playoff wins has come by two goals or less, including three by just one goal. Conversely, the Cardinals have two wins by two goals and two by one.

“We’ve been in those competitive games this year,” Miller said. “You have to play the full 80 minutes.”

“With Warren, CJay and Tyler up top, I think most have had trouble matching our speed,” Miller said.

But while the Cardinals have been led by their attack, Miller said Jacksonville’s defensive backfield of seniors Tyler Waterhouse, Dylan Elliott and Ethan Osborn and sophomore Michael Chin will also be a key.

Miller said the Cardinals played their best defensive game in the win at Chapel Hill.

“If we can get that same effort out of the boys again, I think our chances are good,” he said. “By far it was the best effort, not only in the back four but Joe had another great game, and the guys in the midfield really did a good job of getting back behind the ball and picking guys up running off the ball.

“We did a really good job of limiting their quality opportunities. Granted, they had most of the possession Saturday night, but we limited the quality of opportunities.”

The Cardinals hope to do the same tonight, although Miller knows a victory won’t come easy. He realizes Hunt will be motivated to upset the Cardinals.

“We’ve kind of had that target,” he said. “I think they kind of measure their success against us. It’s about taking care of what you need to do and not allowing teams to get momentum or confidence.”

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“It’s the Eastern final and it will be like playing anybody else because you have to be ready for it,” he said. “We can’t rest on what we did last year or the year before that. It’s a different group. They have some new players and we have some different players. We just have to come out and play our game.”

The Hunt-Jacksonville winner will play the winner of the West Regional final between No. 1 Marvin Ridge (20-1-1) and No. 6 Foard (19-5-3) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the state title game at the Dail Soccer Field at N.C. State University.

Coastal Conference champion Jacksonville (19-4-1) is in the regional final for the ninth consecutive season. This is the first time since 2008, though, the Cardinals will play another team other than Chapel Hill and Cardinal Gibbons – two teams Jacksonville defeated in this year’s playoffs.

“I think it will help,” Davis said of the Cardinals’ playoff experience. “I wouldn’t say we are confident, but we are ready to play.”

Meanwhile, Hunt (17-6-1) is the regional final for the first time since 1999. The Warriors rallied for a 2-1 victory over White Oak on Saturday on a game-winning goal by sophomore Jake Fox. Hunt, coached by Scott Summers, won the Big East Conference title.

“They are a good side. They are going to be well-coached and it’s going to be a good game,” Miller said. “They have a good kid up top (Jacob Lee), their middle is solid and they have a pretty good goalkeeper (in Andrew Sorrell). They have really come along this year. I know they are young…, but they have steadily gotten better as the year has gone on, and you have seen that in the playoffs.”

Each of the Warriors’ four playoff wins has come by two goals or less, including three by just one goal. Conversely, the Cardinals have two wins by two goals and two by one.

“We’ve been in those competitive games this year,” Miller said. “You have to play the full 80 minutes.”

“With Warren, CJay and Tyler up top, I think most have had trouble matching our speed,” Miller said.

But while the Cardinals have been led by their attack, Miller said Jacksonville’s defensive backfield of seniors Tyler Waterhouse, Dylan Elliott and Ethan Osborn and sophomore Michael Chin will also be a key.

Miller said the Cardinals played their best defensive game in the win at Chapel Hill.

“If we can get that same effort out of the boys again, I think our chances are good,” he said. “By far it was the best effort, not only in the back four but Joe had another great game, and the guys in the midfield really did a good job of getting back behind the ball and picking guys up running off the ball.

“We did a really good job of limiting their quality opportunities. Granted, they had most of the possession Saturday night, but we limited the quality of opportunities.”

The Cardinals hope to do the same tonight, although Miller knows a victory won’t come easy. He realizes Hunt will be motivated to upset the Cardinals.

“We’ve kind of had that target,” he said. “I think they kind of measure their success against us. It’s about taking care of what you need to do and not allowing teams to get momentum or confidence.”